Adjustable mold for continuous casting installation



E. COLOMBO 3,292,216

CASTING INSTALLATION Dec. 20, 1966 ADJUSTABLE MOLD FOR CONTINUOUS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1963 ENZO COLOMBO HvN \\\m S O r/ /////7%I l I .ll. 1 I. :1 :1: H v H. I! U m w n H c c a 1 L @N nm N r 0 N m. ah VHHHMQwQ m 2 Q mm b N HHQU/ 2 a N m 1 \m MT 2 N\ r! N MMJ/MwwATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 E. COLOMBO 3,292,216

ADJUSTABLE MQLD FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION Filed June 25, 19632 Sheets-Sheet :3

I r I l I I HI IH UH V s 2 E R 9 7 3 E m wOE l I 7 I .m a 2 wn 3 b M wmw MOE QM. N4 N1 2 Q United States Patent Ofiice 3,292,216 Patented Dec.20, 1966 3,292,216 ADJUSTABLE MOLD FOR CONTINUOUS CASTlNG INSTALLATIGNEnzo Colombo, Genova-Quinto, Italy, assignor to Coucast AG., Zurich,Switzerland Filed June 25, 1963, Ser. No. 290,521 2 Claims. (Cl.22-57.2)

This invention relates to metal casting and, more particularly, to animproved mold for the continuous casting of alloys having high meltingpoints.

In processes employing continuous casting of metal, as for exampledescribed in the USP. 2,284,503 (Williams), the mold cost represents asubstantial proportion of the total cost of such processing. The cost ofthe molds arises not only from consumption of the mold during casting ofstrands, but also in large measure can be attributed to the capitalrequired for purchase of the necessary plurality of molds required inany large production facility.

When individual molds are provided for casting of slabs or strands ofdifferent dimensions, the production must be interrupted in order tochange molds when the strand size change is required. Such productionstoppages are expensive in reducing the tonnage castable by a singlefacility.

In order to reduce the number of molds required at a castinginstallation, the art has resorted to providing a mold in which thewalls of the mold are made up of elemental modules of predetermineddimensions which are joined together and held in the desired moldconfiguration. While this does reduce the quantity of molds required inany installation, the assembled molds have some disadvantages inoperation. For example, the composite mold is subjected-to plate warpingat junctions therebetween because of differing mold wall temperaturesas,

for example, caused by shrinking of the strand and separation from thewall. Such warping and variation in temperatured-induced expansion ofthe elements often leads to destruction of the junctions between theelements. This in turn often causes cracks in the strand which adverselyaffects the cast material. Unfortunately, the clamping forces requiredto hold the elements together in the mold wall augment the forcestending to warp the plates and, thus, require construction of theelements from relatively thick plates. However, thickening the platesdecreases the cooling effect of the mold walls. The production of theelements is relatively expensive because the elements must be machinedto fit very carefully. Even so, it is difficult to achieve a coolingeffect which is constant across the entire mold wall and the strand willoften tear at the junction between elements.

Although it has been known to utilize a transverse wall inserted betweenthe side walls of the mold formed from elements and to provide means foradjusting the position of the transverse wall as to provide a taperedmold, such molds cannot be changed to accommodate strand dimensions. Inorder to change the dimensions of the molds, it is necessary to removethe mold since the wall elements can only be changed after such removal,further increasing the cost of operation.

For the casting of nonferrous metals, the art has provided a rectangularmold using a removable transverse wall which fits between thelongitudinal walls of the mold, which is arranged inside of an enclosingcooling box. With this arrangement, the required number of molds isdiminished somewhat since the transverse wall can be changed to controlthe dimension of the slab between the transverse walls. However, eachcooling box can be used for one thickness only. Thus, considerablenumbers of cooling boxes are required for such mold construction.Further, since the transverse walls and the cooling box are inflexible,the packing between the transverse wall and the cooling box is difiicultdue to irregular expansion. Also, since the cooling box and insertedtransverse walls generate opposite forces, expansions can createuncontrolled forces causing mold warpage and strand damage.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a moldfor continuous casting of materials having a high melting point in whichthe dimensions of the mold can be changed rapidly and economically andin which the cooling effect over the mold cavity can be regulated toprovide the desired chilling of the strand.

In accordance with these objects, there is provided, in a preferredembodiment of this invention, a mold for continuous casting of metalwhich is made of longitudinally extending side walls between which areinserted end walls. The end walls frictionally engage and are clampedbetween the side walls.

Each side or longitudinal wall element is formed from a supporting frameand a face plate coupled to the frame. The frame is provided withpassages for the circulation of water therein to cool the face plateswhich define the mold cavity. The supporting frame is carried upon themold table. Longitudinally extending beams are positioned adjacent eachframe and are clamped togther by clamps at the ends of and separatedfrom the frame. Adjustable means such as set screws are provided whichextend through the beam and engage the frame at the position of the endwalls to enable adjustment of the clamping force thereon. Thus, the endwalls may be clamped between the adjacent longitudinal walls by directlyapplied compression members preventing any bending movement which wouldtend to distort the face.

Further, the longitudinal mold walls can expand laterally withoutinterference by the end walls.

Since in most strip mills, the slabs cast are of a single thickness, butwith varying widths, the end walls are adjustable in positioning bycoupling a support containing the cooling chamber to the end wall andproviding drive members coupled to each cooling chamber for adjustmentof the end wall position as dictated by the desired width of the castslab.

By providing for interchangeability of the mold plates, fast replacementof destroyed Wall elements can be efiected.

Also, by changing the dimension of the end walls. various strand crosssections such as trapezoid and rhomboid sections can be easilyfabricated.

Having briefly described this invention, it will be described in greaterdetail along with other objects and advantages thereof, in the followingportions of the specification, which may best be understood by referenceto the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned elevation view of a mold fabricated inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned elevation view taken along lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned elevation view of a portion of the moldshown in FIG. 1 utilizing an alternative means for moving the end walls;and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a mold in accordance with another embodirnentof the instant invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a mold cavity 1 defined by the sidewall mold plates 2, 2a and the end wall mold plates 8, 8a. Mold plates2, 2a are coupled to the frame members 4 and 5 respectively which areprovided with the vertically extending wall sections 6 and 7 repectivelyto form the side walls of the mold.

I The plates 2, 2a are secured to the frames 4 and 5 respecsectioned,but are continuous, so that thermal expansion will not open cracksbetween elements as would be the case with a sectioned or dividedstructure. The wall elements 3, 3a, 6 and 7 are interchangeable toenable replacement of parts destroyed during molding. Also, in thismanner, different wall elements 3 and 3a can be inserted to change theform of the mold cavity from rectangularto trapezoidal, rhomboidal andthe like. In order to adjust the position of the wall elements 3, 3aadjusting screws 10 and 11 are coupled thereto as, for example, by balland socket couplings to enable movement of the wall element 3, 3a to thedesired position and to enable inclination of the wall as, for example,to provide a tapered mold often necessary to equalize shrink.- ageduring casting. The screw members 10 and 11 are threadably engagedwithin the blocks 12, 13 which are respectively coupled to the clampingscrews of bolts 14,

15, 16 and 17. The beams 18, 19, 20 and 21 provide.

support for the mold frames, which supports are adjustable by means ofset screws 22 or adjusting screws 23 which can be driven against thewall sections 6 and 7 at the position of the end walls 3, 3a to ensureclamping thereof in the desired position.

By this arrangement, the supporting structure of the mold is provided inan encircling configuration of beams. When clamped against the sidewall, the wall elements 6 and 7 are under compressive stress just at thearea of contact with the end walls 3 and 3a. Thus, the mold plates 2 and2a are essentially free of clamping pressures which diminish warping themold plates.

The mold is cooled by .water circulated in passages 24a formed by themold plates 2, 2a and 8, 8a and the frames 4, 5,, 9, 9a, which water issupplied by conduits 24 and drained away by conduits 25. The clampingscrews may be provided with springs 26 for resilient connection, toensure uniform application of the clamping force and prevent destructionoverstresses. The beams 18-21 show recesses 27, in which the supports22a, 23

can be moved, so that for variation of the shape of mold cavity 1 bymovement of the inserted wall elements 3, 3a these supports can easilybe moved to correspond with the position of the inserted wall elements.In the place of the adjusting screws 10, 11, plungers can be provided,as described below and illustrated in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, the wall element of plate 6 and end Wall element 3 is shown.In place of the adjusting screws 10, 11, FIGS. 1 and 2, plungers 30, 31of known design are provided, which are carried by holding means 12, 13,connected to the clamping screws 14-17. The working of the plungers isachieved by conduits 32, 33 if the inserted wall 3 shall be moved to theleft and the mold cavity diminished, by conduits 34, 35 if the moldcavity 1 should be enlarged and the inserted wall is moved to the right.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment, comprising additional inserted wallelements for casting two strands of smaller dimension in a single mold.The fundamental arrangement corresponds to that of the first embodiment.A pair of side Wall elements or plates 40, 41 is provided andtransversely inserted wall elements 42-45 are sandwiched between theseside wall elements 40, 41. In this embodiment, each wall element isformed by the mold plate. The cooling of these mold plates can beachieved by bore holes similar to the excavation 24a (FIGS. 1, 2)comprising respective feeding and draining conduits. By insertion ofadditional wall elements 44, 45, two smaller mold cavities 54, 55 areformed. Thus, it -is possible to cast with the same mold one or morestrands improving the productivity of the plant considerably.

This embodiment also shows supports 46-49 which are movable to theposition of the inserted wall elements as explained in connection withthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by movement along recesses inbeams50, 51. The pressure for clamping the inserted wall elements isachieved by plunger 52, known to the art. Thefirst wall elements 42, 43being arranged at the outer periphery of the mold are each movable bythe pair of plungers 53 (as described in FIG. 3). In this arrangement,two

supports (e.g. 46, 48, 47, 49 or 47, 48) take the form dle said moldcavity and substantially parallel to said.

side walls, the position of at least one of said end walls beingadjustable along the greater part of said side walls and being held inposition by clamping of said end walls between said side walls by usingsaid supporting beams, said supporting beams being clamped together byclamp:

ing means positioned at each end of said side walls and 1 includingmeans for applying the clamping pressure to said side walls at theposition of said end walls, thereby avoiding bending moments acting onthe side walls, said side walls and said end Walls being free to movetogether so that as said side walls expand because of temperature riseduring casting,'said side walls will not move relative to said endwalls, said means for applying clamping pressure to said side wallscomprising screws mounted; in said supporting beam, said screwsbeingadjustably, positioned along said beam and adapted to engage the;

side Walls in clamping engagement.

2. A continuous casting mold comprising a first and second side wallmold plate, a first and second frame.

member, said first and second side wall plate beingrespectively securedto said first and second frame member, each of said frame members havingchannels therein closed by said respective plate to define passages forcooling Water flow, a first and second beam member positioned astraddlesaid mold and extending beyond the ends of said plates and frames,clamping means positioned at each; end of said mold for clampingtogether the respective 1 ends of said beams, a first and second endwall adjustably positioned between said side walls, and second clampingmeans adjustably positioned in said beams to apply clamp-g ing pressureto said frames to clamp said side wallsinto, 1

supporting engagement with said end walls, .said second clamping meansbeing positioned at the location of said end walls to avoid bendingmoments acting on the side, walls, said first and second side wall moldplate being: free to expand under the temperature, of casting without.

relative motion between said side and end walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,856 5/1907Tyler 249--l58 1 2,893,080 7/1959 Goss 2257.2 3,228,071 1/ 1966 Schultz22-57.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,125,594 3/ 1962 Germany.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner.

2. A CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD COMPRISING A FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLMOLD PLATE, A FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBER, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDEWALL PLATE BEING RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAMEMEMBER, EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS HAVING CHANNELS THEREIN CLOSED BYSAID RESPECTIVE PLATE TO DEFINE PASSAGE FOR COOLING WATER FLOW, A FIRSTAND SECOND BEAM MEMBER POSITIONED ASTRADDLE SAID MOLD AND EXTENDINGBEYOND THE ENDS OF SAID PLATES AND FRAMES, CLAMPING MEANS POSITIONED ATEACH END OF SAID MOLD FOR CLAMPING TOGETHER THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAIDBEAMS, A FIRST AND SECOND END WALL ADJUSTABLY POSITIONED BETWEEN SAIDSIDE WALLS, AND SECOND CLAMPING MEANS ADJUSTABLY POSITIONED IN SAIDBEAMS TO APPLY CLAMPING PRESSURE TO SAID FRAMES TO CLAMP SAID SIDE WALLSINTO SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID END WALLS, SAID SECOND